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BORN
1935
DIED
2022
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Shirley Tapp Obituary
Shirley Joan Tapp, 87, passed away peacefully on Nov. 22, 2022, in the comfort of her home in Middlebury, Indiana.
She was born on July 8, 1935, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to the late Homer and Amalia "Molly" (Wagner) Griffy. She was a devoted wife to Robert Allen Tapp for 63 years, marrying on May 11, 1951, in Raton, New Mexico. They raised their three children in Colorado Springs, where Joan worked as a lunch lady and first developed her knack for cooking.
The family moved to White Pigeon, Michigan, in the early '60s and ultimately settled in Middlebury in 1976. She loved spending Saturdays shopping in town and logged thousands of miles on the road with her beloved husband. An avid quilter with a talent for combining colors and patterns, Joan made major milestones more beautiful with the gift of a handmade quilt. Her love of sewing and cooking was second only to caring for her family. She adored being surrounded by family and her most favorite thing was hosting Thanksgiving – having all her eggs gathered in her basket.
Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband; parents; granddaughter, Katherine Hull; two sisters, Betty Ross and Barbara Stowers; and son-in-law, Oscar Blowers. Surviving are two daughters, Deborah Blowers of LaGrange, Dianna (Ed) Norris of Merritt Island, Florida; son, Donnie (Linda) Tapp of Adams, Wisconsin; six grandchildren, Keith Bontrager of Osceola, Mindy (Wade) Free of Belding, Michigan, Christine Hull of Chicago, Illinois, Joanne (Chad) Werker of Bristol, Jeff (Melissa) Tapp of Elkhart and Dustin (Mary) Tapp of Middlebury; 17 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson; two brothers, Dennis Griffy of Houston, Texas, and Jimmy (Becky) Griffy of Three Rivers, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Visitation will be from 11 am. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25, at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, 1003 S. Main St., Middlebury. The family will hold a private graveside service in White Pigeon Township Cemetery, White Pigeon, Michigan.
Memorial donations can be made to Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545, www.cfhcare.org, or American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be offered to the family at millerstewartfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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Memorial Events
for Shirley Tapp
Nov
25
Visitation
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Miller-Stewart Funeral Home1003 South Main Street P.O. Box 734, Middlebury, IN 46540
Funeral services provided by:
Miller-Stewart Funeral Home1003 South Main Street P.O. Box 734, Middlebury, IN 46540
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